Comments

That segment was so powerful... how wonderful for that positive and beautiful understanding, support and love for those who are born gay. Never before have I heard something so clear and touching. Thank you Oprah, Rev. Bacon and Rev. Beckwith for being beacons of light :)

Posted by: jeffrey Christman | Jan 8, 2009 11:46:49 AM

Re: the Christofascists on the Oprah board ... I've never seen so many nutjobs quoting Levicital Law. How many of these batsh*t crazy @$$#0!es live their daily lives according to every rule listed in the Book of Leviticus. These people are deranged ...

Hello, Mr. Warren, I have the Rev. Bacon on the line. He has something he'd like to talk to you about.

Posted by: crispy | Jan 8, 2009 11:56:48 AM

Re: the commenters on Oprah board who can't stop quoting Levitical Law. Have they read that book? And do they live their daily lives according to every tenet of the Book of Leviticus? Hm, didn't think so.

I don't understand why so many anti-gay conservative Christians would be outraged/surprised at this....it was on Oprah for cryin' out loud....not exactly a beacon of conservative Christian beliefs, you know?

Posted by: Rhea | Jan 8, 2009 12:01:21 PM

Of course, being born gay is a gift from God. It's part of who I am and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.

Posted by: Anonymous | Jan 8, 2009 12:06:37 PM

Wow, it's so powerful and refreshing to be hearing all this from a reverend. I couldn't make myself click the link to the Oprah forums, though. I don't want my day ruined.

Posted by: Brendan | Jan 8, 2009 12:07:12 PM

I made the mistake of clicking through. I guess it's a human nature to define "the other" and find reasons they are inferior. Certainly the christian churches are built on it.

If I believed in a supernatural god I would thank it for making me gay.

Posted by: gordo | Jan 8, 2009 12:17:54 PM

Considering that she was Obama's most visible supporter during the campaign, this Oprah moment is a nice bit of contrast...

Posted by: Jay | Jan 8, 2009 12:18:35 PM

In a perfect world Rev. Bacon and All Saints Church would be considered FUNDAMENTAList Christians and the Warrens, Robertsons, Falwells, Dobsons and Phelpses of the world would be considered the heretics.

It seems that the majority of "Christians'" perception on this is exactly backwards though I'm pretty sure that the Christ recorded in the gospels would see it this way.

Posted by: Zeke | Jan 8, 2009 12:22:25 PM

Leviticus runs into trouble with the Christianists when it commands that heterosexual adulterers should be stoned to death. (Leviticus 20:10)

The God Boterers are not to down with that command, obviously.

The Bible commands the death penalty for anyone who works on Sunday (Exodus 31 verse 15) oops, Walmart, oops Target.

You know what isn't a gift from God? Christians disguising their bigotry as scriptural mandate.

And on another note, if I read anything that starts with "I don't judge but my lord does" or "love the sinner, hate the sin" one more time, I will have a psychotic episode or an aneurysm. Whichever comes first.

Posted by: David | Jan 8, 2009 12:34:49 PM

**In a perfect world Rev. Bacon and All Saints Church would be considered FUNDAMENTAList Christians and the Warrens, Robertsons, Falwells, Dobsons and Phelpses of the world would be considered the heretics.**

In a perfect world they'd all be recognized as fantasists.

Posted by: MAJeff | Jan 8, 2009 12:37:22 PM

"Leviticus runs into trouble with the Christianists when it commands that heterosexual adulterers should be stoned to death. (Leviticus 20:10)"

Amen, FASTLAND:

but they ask for forgiveness every Sunday morning, and then go out and fornicate and adulterate every next Saturday night. Hetero adulterers got made, baby!

I wouldn't mind stonin' some adulterers and fornicators though--you know, to follow the Good Book and keep the Faith. Amen.

Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jan 8, 2009 12:45:43 PM

You know, I just don't understand how people can quote the bible and think it is fact or proof of what they are saying. Perhaps they are all of an older generation. I'm 24, and I just don't get people who are bible thumpers.

I grew up going to a Catholic high school and had to go to religion class (although I've always thought the bible and the whole Jesus thing was just a myth like the Greek gods), so I consider myself fairly educated on Christianity. These people are twisting the quotations around, following only selections of the bible literally, and look uneducated and stupid. Haven't we progressed past the Middle Ages?

Anyway, my point and questions is this: Are the people posting on Oprah's board of an older generation? I've lived in several places (though mostly in New Orleans, and no one is very normal there- young or ancient- LOL).

I've never really experienced anyone being super mean to me because I am gay . Sure there have been little instances of hate directed towards me because I am gay, but they are usually retaliating to something I've said to them.

Maybe I haven't encountered all these weirdos because I don't hang out with the 60+ crowd? I think when some of the older generation dies out from old age, some of the hatred towards gays will go also.

The evangelical movement/cult in America is growing though, so who knows.

Great, now I've written a poorly edited novel here. Sorry folks ;-P

Posted by: Richard | Jan 8, 2009 12:46:08 PM

I saw that yesterday and almost fell off the treadmill.

Awesome. On some level, it's how I've felt but never really articulated. As I've told my "christian" relatives many times - I'm willing to have God judge me are you?

Posted by: Ben | Jan 8, 2009 12:51:09 PM

Being gay is a lot of things, including a choice I made a long time ago and that I keep on making, all the time. It's one of the best decisions I ever made.

It is not a gift from God any more than those chocolates I got this year were a gift from Santa.

Posted by: Matt | Jan 8, 2009 12:54:09 PM

"...someone needs to go on there and quote about how black people are the lowest race on the totem pole, and cursed by God and that their slavery is OK in His eyes."

I always find it funny when "Christians" quote the Bible and don't bother to read the verses right above or below it.

Those who quote Leviticus are really the most humorous! I wrote on the Oprah forum, and I'd like to share the same link here as well for any of you who would like to see what the Bible "really" says:
http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible-gay-christian

Posted by: gabriel | Jan 8, 2009 1:00:16 PM

Hello, Mr. Obama, I have the Rev. Bacon on the line. He has something he'd like to talk to you about.

Posted by: Louis | Jan 8, 2009 1:10:32 PM

MATT,

you are nothing if not consistent. time and again you prove yourself to be superficial. when do you think you might un-choose to be gay? i will spring for the send-off party. or what if we uncerimoniously throw you off a cliff?

Posted by: nic | Jan 8, 2009 1:23:24 PM

@Richard:

Consider yourself lucky then. As a 25 year old gay Christian I've gotten more crap over my sexuality from those under 40 than any other group.

Posted by: Rhea | Jan 8, 2009 1:47:25 PM

I wish people would evolve already and throw off the chains of diety worship. If everyone rose above the misguided and misdirected teachings of their respective religions and focused on the betterment of all, the world would be a far better place.

Posted by: Rob | Jan 8, 2009 1:52:39 PM

Actually I did force myself to read Leviticus. I think it should be subtitled "Everything You Wanted to Know About Burnt Sacrifices, but Were Afraid to Ask." It is not at all relative to today's culture.

I actutally feel that all sexuality is a gift from God. It's just that God put more thought into my gift and didn't give me one that's so common as heterosexuality.